Note / Memo HaskoningDHV UK Ltd. Transport & Planning To: Badgers Mount Parish Council From: Sandra Holmes / Sarah Simpson Date: 11 October 2019 Copy: O'Neill Homer Our reference: PB9290-RHD-ZZ-XX-NT-Z-0001 Classification: Project related Subject: Transport Advice for Badgers Mount, Kent 1 Introduction 1.1.1 Royal HaskoningDHV has been appointed by Badgers Mount Parish Council to provide transport advice in support of the development of the Badgers Mount Neighbourhood Plan. 1.1.2 Consideration has been given to four Local Plan proposed submission sites, two of which are within the Badgers Mount Parish boundary, and the potential impact of the trips generated at these sites on the local highway network. 1.1.3 This report seeks to provide high level advice on: defining the dominant characteristics of the local transport network; calculating current loading and maximum theoretical capacities of road; defining and evaluating the levels of airborne noise and pollution; evaluating how noise and pollution relate to traffic densities; and identifying the impact that these proposed sites would foreseeably have on the local highway network. 1.1.4 To this end, this report comprises of the following: Section 2 provides the background and location of Badgers Mount and proposed sites for submission into the local plan within the local highway network, the location of proposed sites for submission into the historical transportation concerns in Badgers Mount and identifies the key characteristics of the surrounding highway and rail network, identifies major junctions; Section 3 reviews national, regional and local policy regarding baseline traffic data, as well as future growth and development in Kent (2016–2031) and highlights the implications of this development on infrastructure and transport; Section 4 reviews the potential traffic impact of the proposed sites for submission in the Local Plan; Section 5 reviews the environmental concerns of noise and pollution, and evaluates how these relate to traffic densities; and Section 6 sets out the recommendations and concludes this report. 11 October 2019 PB9290-RHD-ZZ-XX-NT-Z-0001 1/12 2 Background and Location within the Highway Network 2.1.1 Badgers Mount is a hamlet of circa 260 properties in West Kent, to the south of London. It is located to the north-west of Sevenoaks, between Sevenoaks, Bromley and Orpington. Situated on the upper slopes of the North Downs within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and largely within the London (Metropolitan) Green Belt, this area forms a gateway to the renowned and historic Darent Valley. 2.1.2 Previously part of the Shoreham Parish Council, Badgers Mount formed its own Parish Council in 2015, and on 10th June 2019 the parish area was designated as a Neighbourhood Area by Sevenoaks District Council. 2.1.3 The Badgers Mount Parish Council has subsequently established a Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, and Sevenoaks District Council is a member on that group. The group consists of a wide variety of stakeholders including local district councils, councillors, the Highways Agency, the Environmental Agency, local wildlife trusts, major transport providers such as Transport for London and Network Rail, major service providers including BT and British Gas, local businesses and charities, local service providers, residents and land owners. 2.1.4 The Badgers Mount Parish Council Neighbourhood Plan Update (July 2019) states that their Neighbourhood Plan should be ‘underpinned by solid groundwork and a strong audit trail’. Stakeholder engagement is fundamental to identifying issues and constraints. 2.1.5 The Badgers Mount Neighbourhood Plan (BMNP) provides the local community with a legal ‘voice’ in planning matters, setting out policies on the development and use of land in the parish or neighbourhood. Once formulated, the BMNP becomes part of the Local Authority Development Order which grants permission for specific development proposals, parking provision, housing mix, development densities, issues of heritage and character of a place, environmental and traffic issues. This BMNP will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. To this end the BMNP Steering Group aims to forge close links with Sevenoaks District Council to reduce conflict relating to development strategies, and to ensure that the BMNP is underpinned by the aims and outcomes of the Sevenoaks District Council Local Plan which is currently under review. 2.1.6 The hamlet of Badgers Mount is located approximately 2,3 kilometres (kms) from Junction 4 on the M25 and is bounded to the north (in part), to the east and south by the M25 which follows a north-south alignment. 2.1.7 The northern boundary follows the alignment of Chelsfield Lane in a north-westerly direction, passing under the M25 to the junction with Hewitts Road, Maypole Road and Hollybush Lane. 2.1.8 Badgers Mount Parish area is bounded to the west by Old London Road, which has a north-west to south-east alignment, and extends from the Shoreham Lane/Hewitts Road/Maypole Road/Hollybush Lane junction to the M25/A21 roundabout, largely following the alignment of the Old London Road from the M25/A21 roundabout to the A224/Old London Road/Shoreham Lane roundabout before bearing south for a further 1.75kms. 11 October 2019 PB9290-RHD-ZZ-XX-NT-Z-0001 2/12 2.1.9 The southern boundary of Badgers Mount Parish follows the Old Polhill Public Right of Way (PRoW Reference SR714), crossing under the M25 to the railway line east of the M25 just north of the junction of Twitton Lane and Fliston Lane. 2.1.10 The eastern boundary follows this railway northwards to the tunnel at Polhill Bank, then bears north-west across the M25 before bearing immediately north-east to cross back over the M25, following a south-west to north-east alignment to Timberden Farm on Shacklands Road. The Orpington Bypass (A224) 2.1.11 The A224, also known as the Orpington Bypass, follows a north-west to south-east alignment from the M25/A21 roundabout in the north-west, through Badgers Mount for a total of 1.68kms to the Shoreham Lane/Shacklands Road roundabout in the south. 2.1.12 Through Badgers Mount the A224 is a two-way single carriageway link road with road markings and street lights. Old London Road 2.1.13 Old London Road follows a north-west to south-east alignment from the Cadlocks/Wheatsheaf Hill junction in the north-west to the southern edge of the Parish in the vicinity of Polhill. 2.1.14 The Old London Road extends for approximately 2.8kms, forming the western boundary of the Badgers Mount Parish Council area. 2.1.15 The Old London Road is a two-way single carriageway, with a cycle lane, road markings, central hatching, bus stops, street lights and paved footway on the east side of the road. The posted speed limit through Badgers Mount is 40mph. 2.1.16 To the south of Badgers Mount, the Old London Road joins the A224 and is a two-way, single carriageway with road markings, street lights and a footway on the eastern side of the road. Location of the Proposed Sites for Submission into the Local Plan 2.1.17 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)1 promotes sustainable and public transport- oriented development as a core planning principle and states that ‘Plans and decisions should ensure developments that generate significant movement are located where the need to travel will be minimised and the use of sustainable transport modes can be maximised…[D]evelopments should be located and designed where practical to have access to high quality public transport facilities’. 2.1.18 The Chelsfield Depot site (SHELAA Ref H0150) is located within the Parish, on Shacklands Road to the south east of Badgers Mount. The site entrance is located approximately 67m to the east of the A224/Old London Road/Shoreham Road roundabout. This site is surrounded by woodland and is currently utilised for aggregate storage and distribution. This site could potentially yield 196 units within one to five years. 1 National Planning Policy Framework (2018) Section 4 11 October 2019 PB9290-RHD-ZZ-XX-NT-Z-0001 3/12 2.1.19 The Calcutta Club and Polhill Business Centre site (SHELAA Ref H0368) is located to the south of Badgers Mount on the east side of the A224 (London Road), within the Parish boundary. It is approximately 1.09km south of the A224/Old London Road/Shoreham Road roundabout. The site is surrounded by woodlands and is currently utilised for mixed commercial use, with a restaurant, offices, residential dwelling, hotel, storage, workshop buildings and associated parking on the site. This site could potentially yield 66 residential units within one to five years. 2.1.20 It is noted that the Site Availability Assessment for both these sites located within the Badgers Mount Parish boundary state that ‘The site is not connected to a settlement but is within walking distance of the services and facilities in Badgers Mount.’ However, even a cursory review of the services and facilities in Badgers Mount demonstrate that there is not the diversity of services that would typically be required to support a residential development: for example, schools, medical practices, village shop or Post Office. Therefore, the proximity of the site Badgers Mount is irrelevant in establishing the use of sustainable transport. 2.1.21 A further site (SHELAA Ref H0328) located to the west of the A224/Old London Road/Shoreham Road roundabout, lies outside the Badgers Mount Parish boundary and has the potential to yield 21 units within one to five years. The Site Availability Assessment for this site states that whilst the site is adjacent to Badgers Mount settlement, the site is ‘not within walking distance of public transport and existing services and facilities.